With a fascinating concept and execution, the structure is either entertainingly crosshatched or straightforward—depending on the method you choose. With all the feel of an adult Choose Your Own Adventure story, without having to actually go through the tedium of choosing. The Baroness Sequence Pagination is one of the two methods of reading through the story, and those sections end with a simple "Go here" link that takes you to the next appropriate section. (I did have some technical difficulties with the Kindle linking (and even the naming of the upcoming section) but I methodically broke down both attack strategies by their chapter names and the Kindle locations they span, and came up with what I believe is the correct order from the Baroness's instructions.)

Rest assured, I will be rereading this soon with the other method — simply turning the pages in the given order.

Regardless, the entire escapade is worth the effort. Following souls through time in an overlapping method that allows each individual story to develop alongside the others, and waiting for the pieces to finally fit together in one larger picture was completely and utterly engrossing. I did not want to put this book down or to end. Landragin has created characters for Crossings that have so much depth; they feel every bit as ancient and well-traveled as they are in their own stories. That includes the real-life characters who make an appearance of sorts in the book: Charles Baudelaire, Jeanne Duval, and Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

Crossings is an appropriate name — calling to mind a journey over the seas, but Landragin uses it as the name of another kind of journey here. Nonetheless, this novel is a veritable basketweave of three narratives. With reading it as the Baroness intended, I believe she's allowed most the work to be done by the stories themselves. Whereas, it's up to the reader to tie everything in completely when reading it straight through. Either way, both ways, create a supremely masterful novel.

With hints of Orlando, a drop of The Song of Hiawatha, and a fragmental resemblance to Cloud Atlas, Crossings stands among some greats — and holds up to the label of genre-bending.

I will definitely be purchasing my own physical copy for the reread coming up.

Whoa. When a book tells multiple but intertwined stories that weave around each other by experimenting with form, the bar is really, really high — Cloud Atlas, with its half-stories that reunite in the second half, The Maze at Windermere, which tells powerful location-specific stories from different eras, The Time Traveler’s Wife, with its temporally unstuck protagonist — these are some of my favorite books, and Crossings, in my opinion, deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence. And this is before I do what I’ve virtually never done, which is to go back and re-read it in an alternate sequence. The book starts out with a bookbinder hired to bind a book by a mysterious patron with exacting requirements. But, as he begins, he notices a note that suggests an alternate reading order — the actual book we are reading lets you make that choice as well, and I chose the traditional, linear direction. However, I wonder if the experience would be very different if I’d chosen the non-linear mixing of the three core stories. The stories are: an unknown horror story by Charles Baudelaire, a romance story on the brink of the Nazi invasion of Paris, and a long memoir of a woman who is able to switch bodies — “cross” — with others and who lives a long, multi-switching life of sweeping scope and emotion. Unlike the other books I mentioned, the language in Crossings is essentially unchanged stylistically throughout the book — but the various crossings can be confusing until you work out the structure and process. Landragin is careful to always give you “warning” of a coming crossing and to help you understand the consequences, so it’s not a hard book to read. I am fascinated by how the book would be different with the alternate structure — I think it might hold together better and give a wider scope to the overarching story which is, at its heart, a tragic love story. This book is a stunning accomplishment, never less than riveting and its characters feel like actual humans rather than plot devices. I couldn’t put it down and I’ve had this pressing need to go back and re-read it immediately (though with the different structure) maybe three times before in my long reading life. Like I said: Whoa.

A mesmerizing read a story so unique paths to be taken.A book that draws you in takes you on a unique reading voyage.A book you will not forget nor will you want it to end.#netgalley #crossings

An incredible debut by Alex Landragin. Literary and complex, it tells three different stories linked by one incredible premise; that souls can travel from one person to another in a 'Crossing'. This is a genre-bending novel, at times romantic, then again historical, with a supernatural quality that persuades the reader to believe that anything is possible. Each chapter is like a short story; each story links the characters together. My only disappointment was that when reading the book as suggested, following instructions to "go here" after each chapter, the chapters did not always link to the intended following chapter correctly, something that can be easily remedied by the time the novel is released. Captivating and surprising, I'm sure this will be a bestseller. 5 superb stars.

My thanks to Alex Landragin, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and I'm so glad I requested it! I'm a big fan of word games, and twisty-turny stories that pretzel around, and CROSSINGS delivers.

Without spoiling the plot, there are two ways to read this book - one is the 'traditional' straight way through, the other is the "Baroness' way, which jumps between chapters in a quasi-Choose Your Own Adventure mode. I chose to start with the Baroness' "path".

The story ranges across decades and continents, and characters reappear like old friends but in different situations, as we encounter both fictional and real-life personages (including Beaudelaire and Coco Chanel).

I recommend this book for all fans of creative fiction - especially fans of David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas". Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an uncorrected ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the most inventive story I’ve read in awhile. I loved the concept of being able to read the book two different ways. I chose to read the book straight through from beginning to end. The alternate version tells the reader where to jump to throughout the book (much like a “Choose your own adventure”). The characters were strong and the writing kept me engaged. It was a well-written love story without being overly romanticized. The concept was fantastic and I felt like it lived up to the hype I've heard about this book. I would definitely recommend it to others.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book blew my mind. It combines all my favourite things: intrigue, magic, history, frame narratives, and bibliophiles.

Reminiscent of the Shadow of the Wind with a pinch of Jorge Luis Borges thrown in, it takes the form of three "found" manuscripts that tell a noir mystery/romance set in the weeks leading up to the Nazi occupation of France, a collection of memoirs spanning over a hundred years, and a folk tale about an albatross and the magical pacific islanders who believe themselves to be descendants of it.

But if you read it in Baroness order, jumping from chapter to chapter (aided in the kindle version by handy links at the end of each chapter), it becomes a tale of pursuit across generations; soulmates seeking each other as they jump from body to body, leaving a trail of intrigue and murder behind them.

I found no faults in this book. I am placing it prominently among my favorites. There's the bonus surprise of a large chunk of it taking place in Mauritius, where I grew up, which made it even better.

If you're looking for a book that will take you around the world during the quarantine, this is it.

How to even describe this book?

It’s actually three interlinking stories spanning time from the 1700s to WWII, from the Pacific Islands all over the world, ending in France. Or, at least, that’s how I read it. It may be different for you.

The preface explains two ways of approaching the story: the usual cover-to-cover way, or, the way I read it, the Baroness Sequence, that hops around to different parts of the story. And yes, you can read it on your Kindle that way. It’s quite easy, as the publisher has little “go here” links when you have to jump to a different page. Which manner should you choose? I don’t know since I only read the Baroness Sequence, but it made my brain explode in the best way possible, so I have to recommend it.

This book is perfect for people who liked The Seven ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, or Ship of Theseus, or any kind of non-linear brain-ache, even House of Leaves. The characters at the beginning of the story introduce the reader to their gift of “crossing”, which is essentially souls trading bodies. These souls then have to hop into different bodies to escape murderers, or track down a lost love, or escape physical infirmity. I was delighted and enthralled the entire time. It was thrilling, engaging, and stimulating. I took eight pages of notes. If you read that and think, “Oh, YAY! I can’t wait to get started!” then this is the perfect book for you.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review

I tried to like this book but it just seemed to drag on and on. Could not hold my interest.
This book can be read 3 different ways, and I tried all 3 ways, but I still felt lost half the time, and my brain just could not focus on the storyline. I do believe it is because the subject matter was just not for me and no fault of the authors, therefore giving 3 stars.

Thank yo to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC copy of book. All opinions all my own.

For practically the first time I could not finish a book. Usually once I start a book, even if I don’t like it to begin with, I will continue to read it. However this book was so disjointed and uninteresting that I gave up. Apparently there was supposed to be two ways to read the book, beginning to end or chapter to chapter as indicated at the end of each chapter. I chose the later which may have been the wrong choice. I was not interested in starting over to read the book differently as the subject matter was not interesting to me.

A strange but interesting story about several intertwined characters that share the ability to exchange souls and the burden and cost of immortality.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had so much fun reading this book. It can be read three different ways and I elected to jump chapter to chapter approach to read this book as one cohesive novel. For those that may be confused…rest assured the options available for reading are included in the book too.

This is an EPIC! story that covers a lot of years and a lot of continents. There are some fantastical elements to the book but I felt they worked well in the story telling. It wasn’t outlandish and wasn’t a main element of the book. I just wasn’t expecting it. The book gave me a whole Winters Tale feeling that made me love it even more.

If you’re ready for a literary journey! Keep an eye out for this gem!

Expected publish date: July 2020

This book is part fiction, part historical fiction, part paranormal, part suspense, all wrapped up together into a masterpiece. There are three separate stories that seem in no way to intertwine and then you get an "oh wow" moment. This has to be one of the most unique books I have ever read. Besides reading the book as 3 separate stories you can start further back in the book and read ever other page and it becomes a single novel. Sheer genius and highly enjoyable.

Thank you for this e-copy for review. My full review will be posted on my social media accounts, Amazon, and Goodreads.

I wasn't sure what this was going in. I think it was a bit confusing but I can see how many others could enjoy it. I think it was written fine but I struggled with it. I think it wasn't my type of book.

Crossings is a strange book, in a good way. There are two ways to read the novel: Straight forward or "The Baroness Way" which involes jumping around the book. I chose The Baroness Way and found the jump points easy to folow with my Kindle. I enjoyed the story overall. It is hard to explain the plot without spoilers but I will try. The three short stories come from different times and different authors. Yet, they are connected and make sense how as you go along. My only complaint is that at some points there is too much decription on non-plot things, like all the kinds of fur they are looking to trade or all the food on a table. This was an interesting read I suggest for people who are fans of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August.

I recieved a digital ARC from Netgally & St. Martin's Press for an unbiased review.

Crossings by Alex Landragin is an ingenious piece of art that simply cannot be labeled as just under one genre.

This book is part fiction, part historical fiction, part paranormal, part suspense, all wrapped up together into a masterpiece.

When the reader begins to read this book they find that they need to decide one of two ways to read through the pages to find out the true plot and ending. It would actually be useful to read it both ways, but it doesn’t matter how one uncovers the plot, it is the journey that is delicious. That is not to say that the final product isn’t tasty, it is just that adding all the ingredients together is just as exciting and worthwhile. As the reader continues on, they find how the three stories that at first seem completely different, all interweaving into the finished product.

Just pure brilliance. So unique and so unforgettable.

5/5 stars!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

What if you could switch bodies with another person by staring directly into another person’s eyes?

That’s largely the premise of Alex Landragin’s debut novel “Crossings,” named after an ancient and almost forgotten practice passed down through generations of the island peoples of Oaeetee.

These “crossings” are also what connects the three parts of Landragin’s book, comprised of three fictional and interconnected manuscripts from different time periods penned by different authors.
Based on the book’s preface, this collection was published by a bookbinder who inherited the manuscript from Baroness Beattie Ellingham. Ellingham commissioned the bookbinder to bind the text together without reading any of the words; however, she died under mysterious circumstances before the task was ever completed. The widespread commercialized publication of the fictional novel “Crossings” isn’t sanctioned by the works’ fictional authors; however, the premise that you’re reading an illicit posthumous work makes consuming the tale even more delicious.

At the center of the tale is the story of Alula and her lover Koahu, a daughter and son of the island nation of Oaeetee. Theirs are the “Tales of the Albatross,” the guilt of breaking their people’s law and becoming the source of their people’s eventual demise.

Their original sin: Crossing into another person’s body without crossing back to their own. Alula had a noble reason for stealing another’s life. Perhaps Koahu did, too. But the puzzle of piecing together their past lives and connections drives the narrative, which can be read in multiple ways.

“Crossings” isn’t written chronologically, but the tales make most sense when you read them front to back in the order in which they are presented. Landragin also offers an alternate retelling — one that jumps around through different parts of the novel like in a “choose your own adventure” style book. But while the promise of another secret novel within the novel is intriguing enough, the result of the latter is disjointed and confusing (especially in ebook format).

“Crossings” is for fans of David Mitchell’s “Cloud Atlas” and the HBO series “Westworld.”

Alex Landragin’s “Crossings” will be published on July 28, 2020. I received a free eARC of “Crossings” from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

A brilliantly complex, beautifully written narrative about shifting identities, spanning decades and continents. It was especially interesting to read about Paris on the eve of occupation, as I live in Paris, where we have been on lockdown for 26 days. Each morning, I run down the middle of Boulevard Hoche en route to the Arc de Triomphe, the end of the 1km I am allowed to travel from my apartment for exercise. At one point in the book, one of the characters remarks on the strangeness of running down one of Paris's wide boulevards without cars. The book draws one into the lives of characters who are at turns astonished by their inexplicable connections with others, by the memories that come to them from distant times and places. Reading this book on my tiny Paris balcony above the silent, abandoned streets, I have a sense of crossing into the lives of the Landragin's characters, who wander Paris in a state of altered consciousness is not so different from my own.

Worth noting: several of the links in the Kindle version lead back to the middle of chapters I've already read, so if I were to follow those links, I'd be stuck in an endless loop, unable to read all of the chapters. This makes for a frustrating experience, as I then have to try to figure out what the intended order is and try to navigate using the TOC, which itself has linkage issues--this is definitely something that needs to be corrected before the Kindle version is released to the public.

I was offered this advanced readers copy via netgalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book intrigued the heck out of me. It is, on its face, a compilation of three short stories that are related. However, the prologue informs you that you can chose to read the stories’ chapter in the “baroness pagination” order to create one novel, intertwining the story.
I chose to read in the baroness’ order. Now, I should say, this is an uncorrected ebook and some of the links were entirely accurate, but I found that if wrong, they do put you close and you just need to go forward to the beginning of the next chapter and continue from there.
Having said that, it is important, if you are like me and sometimes forget bits of stories when you walk away, to read this in as few sittings advice possible. I read it in two. There are many characters and lots of jumping around and if you aren’t paying attention, you can lose track of who’s who - literally.
I hate posting spoilers, so I won’t. But I will say that this story grabbed me and did not let go. The story was very well written and just kept me enraptured the whole time.
It is historical fiction with a supernatural element and lives in the bibliophile’s world that I enjoy so much. Also, it’s mostly set in Paris and I really enjoyed walking down those streets again.
I highly highly recommend this book.